Sharmila Dhankar

Sharmila Dhankhar
Personal information
NationalityIndian
Born (1986-08-15) 15 August 1986
Chhithroli, Mahendragarh district, Haryana, India
Sport
SportPara-athletics
F57
Event
shot put
Medal record
Women's para-athletics
Representing  India
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2026 GlasgowShot put F57

Sharmila Dhankhar (born 15 August 1986) is an Indian para-athlete specialising in shot put. She won the gold medal in the women's shot put F57 at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Early and personal life

Sharmila Dhankar was born on 15 August 1986 in Chhithroli in Mahendragarh district of Haryana.[1][2][3] She contracted polio at two years old, which affected one of her legs.[4][5]

Dhankar was married at the age of 19 to lakhu , and suffered domestic abuse during her first marriage.[4][6] She later returned to her parent's home with her two daughters. She later remarried, and took up para-athletics after encouragement from her husband Ajit Saini. She trained in shot put and discus throw under coach Tek Chand at Rewari.[5][6][7]

Career

Dhankar competes in the F57 disability classification. She represented India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She registered a personal best and national record throw of 8.43 m (27.7 ft) in her third attempt and finished fourth in the women's shot put F57 event.[5][8] In the 2025 World Para Athletics Championships held in New Delhi, she finished fifth in the women's shot put F57 with a best throw of 10.03 m (32.9 ft).[9] At the 2026 Fazza International Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, she won gold in women's shot put F57 and bronze in women's discus throw F57.[5]

Dhankar was part of the Indian contingent at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In the women's shot put F57 event, she won the gold medal with a season-best throw of 9.81 m (32.2 ft).[10] She became India's first-ever gold medalist in para-athletics at the Commonwealth Games.[11][12]

References

  1. ↑ "Golden Glory In Glasgow: Sharmila Dhankar Shatters Records To Claim Historic Para-Athletics Gold Medal At CWG 2026". Outlook. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Meet Sharmila Dhankar, the Haryana girl who beat polio and poverty to win gold for India". CNBC TV18. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Sharmila Dhankar puts adversity behind her, eyes CWG glory". The Times of India. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Difficult childhood, abusive marriage to CWG gold: Para athlete Sharmila's tale". The New Indian Express. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 "All you need to know about Sharmila Dhankhar". The Bridge. 25 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 "'I was beaten from 11 pm to 3 am': How Sharmila Dhankar overcame abuse to script Commonwealth Games history". The Times of India. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  7. ↑ "India at CWG 2026: Know Your Athlete – Sharmila Dhankar". The Times of India. 19 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  8. ↑ Results, 2022 Commonwealth Games – Women's shot put (F57) (PDF). 2022 Commonwealth Games (Report). Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  9. ↑ Results, 2025 World Para Athletics Championships (PDF). International Paralympic Committee (Report). p. 459. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  10. ↑ "Sharmila Dhankar clinches India's para athletics gold". Deccan Herald. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  11. ↑ ""Entire nation proud": Sports Minister Mandaviya hails Sharmila's historic CWG gold in women's shot put F57". Asian News International. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  12. ↑ "CWG 2026 Day 5: Sharmila Dhankar claims India's first-ever para-athletics gold". The Times of India. 28 July 2026. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
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